The time to really deal with it…

THE OTHER SIDE

PARITOSH KIMOTHI

The election, its results and the allocation of portfolios in the Union Cabinet have reiterated many points.

While debating on the intricacies is best left to the subject experts, what a person with even average intelligence will understand is that there are groups of people and organisations which are so deeply under the influence of their own personal likes and dislikes that they will continue to use the various pretexts they have used so far to criticise, oppose and fool others just for the heck of it, when not doing it so for their own ulterior benefit.

During the election campaign, many so called armchair liberals- who often tend to be narrow-minded and insecure people- had opined that the BJP would lose the polls because the minorities were living in fear.

After the election results were out, some of these very people conveniently emphasised that the BJP got votes of the minorities too because they voted out of fear.

So the reason for the projected defeat of BJP ended up being the reason for the actual victory, according to these ‘experts’.

As if such ill-logic is not enough to make one try to learn better and deal with facts, this group of people has just stepped up its biased misinformation campaign with fresh aspects to focus on.

As in the past, recent incidents of violence were selectively talked about with some incidents which later turned out to be exaggerated or made up being talked about more than actual murders just because the purported victim and real victim were from different religions, caste or political background.

Perpetuating this folly, some elements are now dividing the union cabinet ministers on caste lines to claim that ‘upper caste’ people were given better and more positions in the cabinet than others.

It is ironic that those who cite the constitution of India and repeatedly focus on caste and religion to criticise their rivals forget that the constitution proscribes discrimination on the basis of aspects like religion and caste.

They would like us to believe that Modi considered the caste and not the merits and potential of persons before allocating them berths in the cabinet. There is another glaring folly that both sides make- that of demanding so called representation. Some are dissatisfied with less than expected representation of a particular community, state, region or party in the cabinet. Do they mean to say that if a community or region lacks representation in the cabinet then the community or region is likely to be ignored?

This mentality basically goes against the constitution’s spirit and the oath of office and secrecy that all ministers took- of discharging their responsibilities in accordance with the constitution of India, without fear or favour.

Just like Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India not just Gujarat, the ministers are of the Union Government and not meant to focus more on the community or region they hail from.

We have evidently not yet realised or feign ignorance for some reason by seeking representation on regional and other lines while claiming to be guided by principles that talk of rising above these distinctions. Probably, it is that old tendency to believe what we find convenient.

However, such convenience will not alter facts, at least not for the better. This brings one to the main issue which surprisingly has been sidelined for long- the environment.

It is actually a challenge to balance development and environmental conservation even though this fact suffers from overkill due to being quoted too often by politicians and officials.

Paying lip service to environmental issues has become a dangerous habit. We need development, economic progress, health, national security along with improvement in other aspects.

However, environment is the foundation on which all these factors depend.

Progress in none of these spheres will matter for long if the environment is severely damaged.

As noted broadcaster and natural historian David Attenborough said recently, “We need to stop the damaging stuff, roll out new green technologies, stabilise human population- as low as we fairly can and keep hold of the natural wealth we have.”

Considering some of the major works done in Uttarakhand during the past five years, one is wary of how the environment will fare with greater and main focus being laid on ‘development’ by the Modi government.

However, one still hopes that the government will refrain from taking the country on a dangerous path that results in more environmental damage.

Just like it is time for rivals of Modi to deal with hard facts, it is also the time for the government to actively deal with environmental issues. We cannot afford further delay.